Staff

Belisa M. Urbina

Founder and Executive Director

Belisa was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She studied Business Administration majoring in Marketing at the University of Puerto Rico and graduated as the Valedictorian of her class. She moved to Dallas, Georgia in 1999. On 2001 she co-funded Ser Familia, Inc. Ser Familia is the leading program in Georgia that provides coordinated multi-disciplinary family services to Latinos. Through culturally relevant and sensitive programs the organization guides teens, couples, parents and families to be strong and healthy, and of value to each other and society. Through its 14 years of history, Ser Familia has served more than 30,800 Latinos. Mrs. Urbina has guided a force of 163 volunteers to provide these services.
Mrs. Urbina is also the Cultural and Linguistic Proficiency Coordinator for Lookout Mountain Care Management Entity, an organization that provides support to kids that are at risk of out-of-home placement and their families. In addition, she is a member of Cobb County’s “Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership’s” (MAPP) Steering Committee; Kennestone’s Hospital Regional Board of Directors’ Chairman; the REACHES Advisory Council (a program of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education to support Latino students) and committee member of Mayor Kasim Reed’s “Welcoming Atlanta” initiative. She was named one of 2012 Women of the year by the national organization Womentics. Ser Familia’s youth program won the prestigious “Heart in Hand Volunteer Group Award” from United Way in Cobb County in 2012. In 2014, she was chosen as one the 11WhoCare®by Atlanta’s 11 Alive Channel and named one the 35 most influential Latinos of the past 35 years in Georgia. In 2015 she was chosen as Family Advocate of the year by the Interfaith Children's Movement.
Ms. Urbina has been married to her husband Miguel for 30 years. She is the proud mother of 5 children and grandmother of 3 beautiful girls.

Belisa is the co-founder of Ser familia, has been married for 30 years and has 5 children and 3 granddaughters.

Miguel A. Urbina

Co-Founder and Programs Director

Miguel was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He studied Business Administration, majoring in Management at the University of Puerto Rico. He moved to Georgia in 1999. He has been a business owner in Cobb County since the year 2000.

In 2001 he co-founded Renovación Conyugal, Inc. which later became Ser Familia, Inc. His energy, hard work and love for this project have fueled it and allow it to grow and expand through the state, benefiting more than 3,000 Latinos every year. He has worked since the organization’s foundation as a volunteer, supervising the different programs, dedicating his efforts particularly to the couples’ program.

He is married to Belisa and is the proud father of 5 kids and grandfather of 3 beautiful girls.

Miguel is one of the co-founders of Ser Familia, his energy, hard work and love for this project have fueled it and allow it to grow and expand through the state.

Elsa Sánchez

Administrative Officer

Elsa is originally from Manatí, Puerto Rico and moved to Georgia in 2016, along with her husband and son. She has an associate degree in Computer Programming from the Universidad Interamericana in Arecibo in Puerto Rico. She was part of the Pastoral Family group of the Our Lady of Fatima parish, in Puerto Rico. She has developed in the administrative field for more than 20 years in different business environments, from multinational pharmacists to small family offices. She also specialized in the field of Health and Safety, training staff on how to work safely and efficiently.

Ser Familia is her first full time job in Georgia. Elsa is very proud of the positive impact Ser Family services have on the Latino community in Georgia.

Elsa is very proud of the positive impact Ser Family services have on the Latino community in Georgia.

Mónica Martinez

Case Manager Supervisor

Monica was born and raised in the Mexico City, Mexico and moved to Georgia with her husband Marco and 2 children in 2002. She has a technical administrative degree and studied 2 years of psychology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

She has worked for over 25 years in the areas of sales, logistics and accounting. With her husband Marco she has been a volunteer of Ser Familia since 2007. She has been trained to deliver our couple´s program and is a certified trainer for Strengthening Families and How to avoid marrying a jerk. She´s proud to become a part of Ser Familia Staff, because she firmly believes that our programs create an impact in our Latino community.

Monica has been a volunteer of Ser Familia since 2007.

Marianela Matheus, MEd, LPC, RPT

Clinical Coordinator / Counselor

Marianela Matheus has over 30 years of clinical experience that pulls from various places. She is a Bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Georgia with a Licensure in Psychology from Universidad Catolica Andres Bello from Venezuela and a Masters in Counseling with a Specialization in Couples and Families from Georgia State University. She has obtained a Floortime Advanced Certification in developmental play therapy and is working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist. She enjoys working with people of all ages from an analytical, neuro diversity and emotional regulation basis.

Marianela is an open-minded and compassionate therapist who uses a strength based, solution-focused approach to address the challenges her clients are facing. Her approach is to use evidenced based techniques to help empower her clients to have confidence to make better life decisions. She also helps clients assess their own readiness for change, and identify the obstacles that are preventing them from making changes and achieving their goals.

Marianela is a Bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor with vast clinical experience, she is an open-minded and compassionate therapist.

Juan Marrero Toledo, McMFCC

Counselor

Juan Marrero Toledo, McMFCC has been working with marriages for over 25 years. He has a master in counseling from Phoenix University with a specialty in Families, Marriage, and Children. He is a member of the Counseling Association of Puerto Rico. He has a bachelors in business administration from the Metropolitan University (UMET) of San Juan, Puerto Rico and a certification of Human Resources and Labor Rights from the Superior Education Institute.

In his work experience Juan has been president of the Fernando Martinez Caula Foundation (2001-2003). Speaker and Couple´s mentor at Renovación Conyugal Puerto Rico (1988 – 2010). He has participated in the family congress in Costa Rica, as well as several Radio programs and TV in Puerto Rico. He is a producer and manager of the program “Mi Otra Mitad” on Tiva Tv channel 8.1 in Puerto Rico. In his practice Juan focuses on creating an environment of empathy with the client so that therapy can be effective. His focus is directed to a humanist therapy that serves as support to help people resolve difficulties and conflicts that can arise in their journey, helping them create a better quality of life.

Juan focuses on creating an environment of empathy with the client so that therapy can be effective.

María García, MA, LAPC, NCC

Counselor

Maria was born and raised in Mexico. She has a Bachelors degree in graphic design and moved to Georgia in 2001. After working for Turner Broadcasting Systems for 14 years and life changing events she decided to change careers and obtained her Master's degree in Community Counseling.

Maria is a Bilingual Licensed Associate Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. She is a solution-focused counselor dedicated to help children, individuals, families and couples achieve lifetime goals. With compassion and practical feedback, she incorporates conventional and alternative approaches helping clients overcome life challenges as well as long standing patterns.

Maria incorporates conventional and alternative approaches helping clients overcome life challenges as well as long standing patterns.

Marlen Adames MS, LAPC

Counselor

Marlen was born in the Dominican Republic. At the age of 12 she moved to New York City where she grew, studied, and eventually formed a family. In 2001 she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Restaurant and Hotel Management. In 2008 she decided to turn her life around and began a Master’s degree in Mental Health. Since 2011 she works as a counselor helping families, children and adolescents. Marlen has 2 sons, a daughter and two adorable grandchildren. In 2004 she moved to Georgia with her children in search of a better quality of life.

Since 2011, Marlen works as a counselor helping families, children and adolescents.

Alfredo Morales MS, LAPC

Counselor

Alfredo Morales was born in Mexico, and moved to the United Stated at the age of 10. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends, exercising, meditating and traveling.
Alfredo graduated from Georgia State University with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He is a multicultural bilingual counselor that helps children and families achieve their goals through a person-centered approach, because he believes that every individual requires specific interventions unique to their needs. He also employs Play Therapy, Arts Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Adlerian and family Systems modalities while working with adults, adolescents, and children. He is a Licensed Associated Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor.

Frances Muñoz

GLADV Program Coordinator

Frances I. Muñoz was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Her father is of Spanish nationality and her mother is Puerto Rican. She is the youngest of two sisters. She holds a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Ana G Mendez University in Puerto Rico. She moved to Georgia in 2017 with her beautiful little family composed by her daughter and mother.
She is passionate about working with victims of domestic violence and focuses on helping and serving those who need support to overcome trauma and improve their quality of life. Using emotional aid, she supports them to have more confidence and better self-esteem; providing tools to improve decision making and control of their lives and also overcoming the obstacles that prevent them from making changes and achieving their objectives.

Frances is passionate about working with victims of domestic violence.

Migdalia Rivera

Outreach Coordinator

Migdalia was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a teenager her family moved to South Jersey were she attended Glassboro State College. During that time she worked with Casa Prac a Social Services Organization helping families. She later went to work for Farmer Workers Inc. as an ESL substitute teacher. Her passion for the community kept growing and joined the Vineland Rescue Squad as an EMT.

After she moved to Cape Coral Florida she helped grow the Big Backpack event and organize over 300 volunteers which hand out more than 2,500 backpacks and school supplies to underprivileged children. Migdalia and her husband moved to Georgia in 2016. She joined Ser Familia as a case Manager, where she is happy pursuing her desire of serving the Latino community.

Migdalia feels happy working at Ser Familia where she pursues her desire of serving the Latino community.

Evelyn Burbano

Case Manager - Buford Office

Evelyn Viviana Burbano Martínez, was born in the city of Cali, Colombia. She is married and has two daughters. She moved to the United States in the year 2013. Evelyn is a lawyer graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Cali.
Her main qualities are her analytical capacity, liking for group work, ability for system management and maintaining good interpersonal relationships. Evelyn likes to raise alternatives, propose solutions, and interpret and enforce rules that provide a social balance. She has the ability to discover knowledge from personal or group research and excellent performance in the exercise of roles in the private and public sector, especially in non-profit organizations. She also has experience in conciliation and alternative dispute resolution methods.

Evelyn is an attorney in her native country of Colombia.

Ruth C. Colquitt

Case Manager Norcross Office

Ruth was born in Habana, Cuba. She left the Island along with her parents when she was 8 years old. She lived in Spain for four years, and then migrated to the United States. She married a Georgia native and has two amazing sons and four wonderful grandchildren.
Ruth has always had the desire to help people reach obtainable goals regardless of their background, economic status, or beliefs. She firmly believes that starting a child in the right direction would help that child become a healthier, more accomplished, and happier adult.
She has a Bachelor of Science and credits her success to her faith and family. She is currently a member of the Georgia Gwinnett College’s Psychology club, and the Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology.
Ruth joined Ser Familia in their commitment to the development of healthy, positive, and loving families in the Latino communities. She claims that after so many years, she has returned to her people and roots.

Ruth has always had the desire to help people reach obtainable goals regardless of their background, economic status, or beliefs.

Myriam Rojas Neidlinger

Case Manager Acworth Office

Myriam Rojas Neidlinger was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She graduated from the Latin American Christian University (Guayaquil-Ecuador) in Clinical Psychology. She worked at the Francisco Huerta School in the area of Vocational Psychology.
She moved to the U.S. in 2006 and arrived in NYC where she worked as a Home Health Aide for 3 years. She moved to Georgia in 2010 where she married and formed a beautiful family with her husband and daughter. She has been very active in her church and has been a youth leader.
She is very happy to be a part of Ser Familia and have the opportunity to continue working with the Hispanic community in Georgia.

Myriam graduated from the Latin American Christian University (Guayaquil-Ecuador) in Clinical Psychology.

Sandra Palomino

Sandra Palomino was born in California. Her parents are from Guadalajara, Jalisco. She is married and recently moved to the state of Georgia. She enjoys spending time with her family and has a passion for traveling.
Sandra is a Certified Nursing Assistant. Additionally, she has years experience in the administrative field. She has developed her experience working primarily in schools, specifically with adolescent aged children. While working at a middle school she taught ESL classes.
Her passion is helping others and making a difference. She is glad to be a part of Ser Familia.